Description
Book SynopsisThose not learned in the economic arts believe that economics is either solely or essentially concerned with commercial relations. And, so it was, originally. Then, in the second half of the 20th century, economists began applying their minimalist but sturdy tools to other human activities such as marriage, child-bearing, crime, religion and social groups.
In this spirit, the Research Handbook on the Economics of Family Law gives us a series of original essays by distinguished scholars in economics, law or both. The essays represent a variety of approaches to the field. Many contain extensive surveys of the literature with respect to the particular question they address. Some employ empirical economics, others are more narrowly legal. They have in common one thing: each scholar employs a core economic tool or insight to shed light on some aspect of family law and social institutions broadly understood. Topics covered include: divorce, child support, infant feeding, abortion access, prostitution, the decline in marriage, birth control and incentives for partnering.
This comprehensive and enlightening volume will be a valuable reference for those interested in law and economics generally and family law in particular.
Contributors: D.W. Allen, L.R. Cohen, S. Cunningham, K. Dickinson, A.W. Dnes, T. Green, M. Guldi, M. Hanlon, T.D. Kendall, J. Klick, R.I. Lerman, J. Price, B. Stevenson, T. Stratmann, A.L. Wax, J. Wolfers, J.D. Wright
Table of ContentsContents: Introduction Lloyd R. Cohen and Joshua D. Wright 1. Is it Just about Love? Factors that Influence Marriage Joseph Price 2. Diverging Family Structure and ‘Rational’ Behavior: The Decline in Marriage as a Disorder of Choice Amy L. Wax 3. Economic Perspectives on Marriage: Causes, Consequences, and Public Policy Robert I. Lerman 4. Trends in Marital Stability Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers 5. The State’s Choice of Divorce Law Michael Hanlon 6. Partnering and Incentive Structures Antony W. Dnes 7. The Anatomy of Canada’s Child Support Guidelines: The Effects, Details, and History of a Feminist Family Policy Douglas W. Allen 8. The Economics of Infant Feeding Tiffany Green and Katherine Dickinson 9. Abortion Access and Risky Sex Jonathan Klick and Thomas Stratmann 10. Prostitution, Technology, and the Law: New Data and Directions Scott Cunningham and Todd D. Kendall 11. A Survey of the Literature on Early Legal Access to the Birth Control Pill and its Influence on Young Women’s Fertility, Education, Career and Labor Supply Melanie Guldi Index
